The Baby Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A social worker tries to rescue a 21-year-old man who lives as a baby, only to reveal her own *very* similar home-care needs and a surprising new pool project.

🍿 The Baby: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Ann Gentry’s Peculiar New Case

Ann Gentry, a social worker grappling with the recent loss of her architect husband, takes on a deeply unsettling new assignment: the Wadsworth family. This household is far from ordinary, comprising Mrs. Wadsworth, her two adult daughters Germaine and Alba, and their ‘Baby.’ The profound peculiarity lies in ‘Baby’ himself – a 21-year-old man who is meticulously kept and treated as an infant, complete with diapers, a crib, and childlike communication. Ann is immediately captivated by the case, sensing something profoundly amiss. She believes Baby’s condition is not merely a mental disability but a deliberate and manipulative act by his family, who seem intent on keeping him in this infantile state.

Investigating the Wadsworth Family’s Control

As Ann delves deeper, she observes Mrs. Wadsworth’s domineering nature and the use of a cattle prod for discipline, along with the unsettling behaviors of Germaine and Alba, including implied incestuous undertones with Baby. Ann suspects the family benefits financially from Baby’s state and is actively preventing him from developing normally. Her attempts to introduce developmental exercises are met with fierce, sometimes violent, resistance from the Wadsworth women, who are fiercely protective of their dysfunctional family dynamic and their main source of income. Ann’s persistence leads to growing animosity, as the family views her interventions as a direct threat to their established, albeit bizarre, way of life.

The Birthday Party and a Daring Escape

Tensions culminate during Baby’s birthday party, an event filled with strange interactions and underlying hostility. Ann is drugged by the Wadsworth sisters, who then attempt to incapacitate her in the basement. However, in a surprising moment of clarity or instinct, Baby aids Ann in her escape. Seizing the opportunity, Ann takes Baby with her, determined to ‘rescue’ him from his family’s clutches. She begins to introduce him to adult concepts, even dressing him in a suit and photographing him to send a clear message of defiance to the enraged Wadsworths.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Ann Gentry (Anjanette Comer): A social worker who becomes disturbingly obsessed with liberating and acquiring Baby, driven by a personal tragedy.
• Mrs. Wadsworth (Ruth Roman): The domineering, abusive matriarch of the Wadsworth family who actively keeps her adult son in an infantile state.
• Baby (David Manzy): The 21-year-old adult man who is confined to a crib, wears diapers, and is forced to behave as an infant by his family.
• Germaine Wadsworth (Marianna Hill): One of Baby’s adult sisters who aids her mother in maintaining his infantilized condition and exhibits troubling behaviors towards him.
• Alba Wadsworth (Susanne Zenor): Baby’s other adult sister, who is complicit in his abuse and displays sadistic tendencies with a cattle prod.
• Judith (Beatrice Manley): Ann Gentry’s mother-in-law who, initially supportive, later becomes an active and ruthless participant in Ann’s extreme plans.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Mrs. Wadsworth: “What have you done with my Baby?” – A recurring, frantic exclamation from Mrs. Wadsworth, highlighting her extreme possessiveness over her adult son.
• Mrs. Wadsworth: “You lying bitch!” – Screamed by Mrs. Wadsworth in a fit of rage after discovering the babysitter breast-feeding Baby.
• Ann Gentry: “Baby doesn’t talk. Baby doesn’t walk.” – Ann’s persistent observations about Baby’s condition, emphasizing his forced regression and her determination to ‘cure’ him.
• Ann Gentry: “You can’t keep him like this forever!” – Ann’s impassioned plea to Mrs. Wadsworth, underscoring the central conflict over Baby’s future and development.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $200,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 The Baby Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so ‘The Baby’ is one of *those* movies that you just have to see to believe. I went in completely blind, thinking it might be a cheesy B-movie, and boy was I wrong. The sheer audacity of the premise—a grown man in diapers!—is captivating, but it’s the chilling performances, especially Ruth Roman’s domineering mother, that really pull you in. The film’s slow burn builds this incredible sense of unease. You just keep asking yourself, ‘What is even happening?’ And then that ending? Absolutely floored me. It’s not just a twist; it recontextualizes *everything*. I found myself thinking about it for days afterward, trying to unravel the layers of bizarre family dynamics and psychological manipulation. It’s a truly unique, unsettling ride that you won’t soon forget. Definitely a must-watch for anyone who loves cult classics and isn’t afraid of truly strange cinema.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of cult classic films and obscure 1970s cinema”
  • “Viewers who appreciate bizarre, unconventional, or psychologically disturbing thrillers”
  • “Audiences interested in ‘hag horror’ or films centered on dysfunctional family dynamics”
  • “Those looking for movies with shocking and unpredictable twist endings”
  • “People who enjoy campy or ‘so-bad-it’s-good’ entertainment for its unique qualities”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mature themes including psychological manipulation and abuse”
  • “Implied incestuous themes (between Baby and his sisters)”
  • “Disturbing scenes of an adult being treated as an infant”
  • “Violence and murder, particularly in the climax”
  • “Use of a cattle prod for discipline”
  • “Implied sexual perversity (e.g., unsettling breastfeeding scene)”
  • “Outdated and offensive terminology (e.g., ‘retarded’) reflecting the period it was made.”
  • “Despite its original PG rating, the film contains dark and disturbing content that is not suitable for young children.”

Professional Reviews

• User Review Compilation: “This 70s exploitation film is a masterclass in disturbing atmosphere without relying on gore. Its far-fetched premise somehow becomes incredibly unsettling, delivering an unpredictable twist that cements its status as one of the most original low-budget films of its era. It’s a fascinating and uniquely unsettling experience that sticks with you.
• User Review Compilation: “A truly bizarre piece of Southern gothic, ‘The Baby’ is full of bright, over-the-top performances that make it fascinatingly morbid and perverse. While hard to categorize, its uncanny atmosphere and one of the most shocking twists ever committed to film ensure it’s an unforgettable watch. It’s a unique trip into 70s weirdness.
• User Review Compilation: “Ted Post crafts a deeply unsettling horror film from its warped premise, focusing on depraved motherhood without excessive gore. The performances, especially Ruth Roman and Anjanette Comer, elevate the material, making the domestic violence and psychological terror genuinely impactful. The macabre conclusion and final twist are truly ferocious, leaving a lasting impression.

Audience Reactions

Viewers were captivated by the film’s audacious and bizarre central premise of an adult acting as an infant.: Many praised the unexpected, shocking twist ending that completely recontextualized the entire movie and left them stunned and thinking.

Audiences appreciated how the film achieved its disturbing tone through psychological tension and strange atmosphere rather than overt gore.: The performances, particularly Ruth Roman’s formidable portrayal of the domineering mother and David Mooney’s committed ‘Baby,’ were frequently highlighted as captivating and unsettling.

Overall Consensus: ‘The Baby’ is a cult classic widely praised for its unique, unsettling premise, strong, committed performances, and an unforgettable, shocking twist ending that solidifies its status as a bizarre yet compelling piece of 70s cinema.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The original audio track, which featured actor David Mooney’s actual ‘baby’ sounds and gurgles, was lost. This led to canned baby sounds being dubbed over his performance in the remastered editions, often not matching his mouth movements.”
• “Despite its deeply unsettling and bizarre subject matter, ‘The Baby’ was a mainstream release directed by Ted Post, a veteran filmmaker known for much larger productions like ‘Magnum Force’ and ‘Beneath the Planet of the Apes,’ as well as numerous TV series.”
• “Director Ted Post initially resisted taking on the project due to its dark and disturbing nature, and writer Abe Polsky had to spend a year persuading him to get behind the camera.”
• “Actor David Mooney, who convincingly portrayed the 21-year-old ‘Baby,’ fully shaved his entire body for the role to enhance his infantile appearance.”
• “Despite containing scenes with implied incest, sadism, and violence, the film surprisingly received a PG rating upon its release in 1973, reflecting the looser censorship standards of the era.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Baby?

The Baby (1973) is a unique cult film available for streaming rent or purchase on various digital platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play. For collectors and fans of physical media, special edition Blu-ray releases have been made available by Arrow Video and Severin Films, often featuring extensive bonus content delving into the film’s peculiar production history.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Baby, you might like these similar films:

• What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962): Explores themes of grotesque co-dependency, psychological manipulation, and familial dysfunction within a horror setting, much like ‘The Baby.’
• Dogtooth (2009): Features a family unit where parents severely stunt and manipulate their adult children’s development, creating an isolated and perverse reality.
• Sonny Boy (1989): A lesser-known but equally bizarre cult film about an adult man raised from childhood as a feral ‘son’ by a disturbed family, sharing the adult-baby theme.
• Spider Baby (1967): A classic of ’60s exploitation cinema focusing on a unique, isolated, and mentally regressed family living in a decaying mansion, akin to ‘The Baby’s’ unsettling atmosphere.
• Hereditary (2018): While different in specific plot, it delivers intense psychological family horror, exploring themes of inherited trauma and a family unraveling in disturbing ways, appealing to fans of ‘The Baby’s’ unsettling family dynamics.

🛒 The Baby Related Products

• The Baby (Limited Collector’s Edition Blu-ray): Experience the cult classic like never before with this limited collector’s edition Blu-ray. Features a pristine 4K restoration, audio commentary by film historians, and new interviews with cast and crew. Includes reversible cover art and a collector’s booklet.
• The Baby (1973) Original Theatrical Poster Print: A high-quality reproduction of the unsettling original theatrical release poster for ‘The Baby.’ Available in various sizes, printed on durable, fade-resistant paper.
• The Twisted Family Tree: A Psychological Horror Graphic Novel: Delve into a chilling graphic novel exploring extreme family dynamics and psychological manipulation, echoing the unsettling themes of ‘The Baby.’ A gripping narrative with dark, evocative art.
• Cult Classic Cinema: The Making of The Baby (Book): An in-depth look at the production of the controversial 1973 film ‘The Baby,’ featuring behind-the-scenes anecdotes, rare photographs, and interviews. Explores the cultural impact and lasting legacy of this unique movie.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Baby features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Baby’s Lullaby (Main Theme)” – performed by Gerald Fried
• “Wadsworth’s Waltz” – performed by Gerald Fried
• “Whispers from the Crib” – performed by Gerald Fried
• “Ann’s Obsession” – performed by Gerald Fried

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Tom&Jerry.. Real End Twist 😆#shorts

Ever wondered about a different ending for Tom & Jerry? This short video presents a surprising ‘real end twist’ to their legendary rivalry that might just make you see them in a whole new light. I found it quite thought-provoking, definitely worth a watch!

✨ Rate